Pears Foundation

Trainer: Shoshana Boyd Gelfand What’s the difference between a “team” and a “group” of people? We often use those words interchangeably, but they are fundamentally different, for example, we would never refer to a “football group” or “team therapy.” A group is a number of individuals sharing something in common, while a team is a group of people who come together for a common goal that needs completion. For a team to function effectively and complete its mission, it is vital that the goal is clear and that each person on the team understands their role. Building an effective team requires more than just recruiting people with the right experience and job titles. The Belbin model helps organisations to build teams who complement each other effectively. Dr Meredith Belbin’s research identified nine functions that all high performing teams possess (e.g. resource investigator, monitor evaluator, completer finisher). By analysing the make-up of their team and mapping it across these functions, organisations are better able to communicate roles and responsibilities clearly, maximise each person’s strengths, identify gaps, manage conflict and work more effectively. Workshop participants will be introduced to the nine Belbin roles, what each contributes to a team, and how they work – or sometimes clash – together. We will also cover how to use Belbin roles in recruitment and project management. Participants (and their nominated colleagues) will be asked to complete a pre-workshop questionnaire and will receive an individualised report with optional - but recommended - 360-feedback from their team. This report is completely confidential, although participants will use it during the workshop to reflect and analyse their own role preferences. If you have any questions about this please do contact us and we will connect you with Shoshana Boyd Gelfand, our trainer.  Who's it for? The workshop is especially useful for those who manage teams (of any size) but is open to anyone who is part of a team and has an interest in team dynamics and what makes a successful team. Please book your place by 31st October so we can ensure there is time to complete the questionnaire in advance.